OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TRADE BOOKS FOR STUDENTS K–12:

2017B O O K S P U B L I S H E D I N 2 0 1 6

We invite you to explore this year’s list of Outstanding Science Trade Books, which greatly adds to our 44-year history. In the award-winning books

below, you’ll find not only traditional science content but engineering and design as well. We hope you’ll enjoy enhancing your spirit of inquiry as you explore science through trade books.

Winning Titles

For further information, please visit WWW.NSTA.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/OSTB/

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Ancient Earth Journal: The Late JurassicJuan Carlos Alonso and Gregory S. Paul

Quarto/Walter Foster Jr.Take a visual tour through the late Jurassic period of geologic time and explore, through beautiful illustrations, the diversity of dinosaurs that inhabited Earth approximately 150 million years ago.

Animals by the Numbers Steve Jenkins

HMH Books for Young ReadersInteresting infographics that compare features of various animals in appealing visuals.

Because of an AcornLola M. and Adam SchaeferIllustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

Chronicle BooksBeautifully illustrated story of interconnections in the forest ecosystem.

A Beetle is ShyDianna Hutts AstonIllustrated by Sylvia Long

Chronicle BooksThis intricately illustrated book showcases the fascinating world of beetles and is sure to spark the imagination of readers of all ages.

Best in SnowApril Pulley Sayre

Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane BooksDescriptive words, minimal text, and breathtaking photos tell the story of snowfall, snow melt, and the seeping of water into the Earth.

Bubonic PanicGail Jarrow

Boyds Mills Press/Calkins CreekThis book combines gruesome photographs with a detailed description of this horrific disease. This is a riveting historical recount of this major breakout.

About Marine MammalsCatherine SillIllustrated by John Sill

Peachtree Publishers.Concise text about marine mammals is supported by full-page illustrations depicting various species in their habitats.

Ada Lovelace, Poet of ScienceDiane StanleyIllustrated by Jessie Hartland

Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman BooksThis is a beautifully illustrated story of a young girl born to the famous poet Lord Byron and mathematically minded Annabella who uses her talents to write the first computer program.

Ada’s Ideas Fiona Robinson

ABRAMSAn inspirational story of Ada Lovelace who overcame struggles to pursue her interests in math and science

After A While CrocodileDr. Brady Barr and Jennifer Keats CurtisIllustrated by Susan Detwiler

Arbordale PublishingThrough her journal entries readers follow Alexa, a Costa Rican schoolgirl, as she cares for an American crocodile and then releases him to the wild.

Outstanding Science Trade Books

Feathered Dinosaurs Brenda Z. Guiberson Illustrated by William Low

Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Henry HoltA diverse array of dinosaurs richly illustrated and showing feathers as a major evolutionary development, which gives evidence of the “connection between the feathered dinosaurs and modern birds.”

Florence Nightingale Catherine Reef

HMH Books for Young Readers/Clarion BooksAn informative biography of Florence Nightingale with a historical context recounting her struggles and contributions to society.

Flying Frogs and Walking Fish Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

HMH Books for Young ReadersWalking, leaping, swimming, and other actions are explored to describe how animals move from place to place and survive by escaping predators and catching their own prey.

Giant Squid Candace Fleming Illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Roaring Brook PressBeautifully illustrated book about the mysterious life of the elusive giant squid.

A Global Warming Primer Jeffrey Bennett

Big Kid ScienceA straightforward and easy read concerning the impact of humans upon Earth’s climate through the use of a question and answer format that will assist the reader to better understand the “ The Science, The Consequences, and The Solutions” of a warming climate.

GlowW. H. Beck

HMH Books for Young ReadersAn exploration of how living organisms utilize bioluminescence to survive within their environments.

Charles Darwin’s Around the World Adventure Jennifer Thermes

ABRAMSThe biographical path, scientific explorations, and discoveries that encompassed the life of Charles Darwin are detailed in this appropriately aged text and through engaging drawings.

Chasing at the Surface. Sharon Mentyka

Graphic Arts Books/WestWinds PressA pod of stranded orcas is protected and saved by the determined effort of a girl, her friends and community, and scientists.

Circle Jeannie Baker

Candlewick PressJoin the bar-tailed godwits as they circle from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to Australia and New Zealand and back again in this beautifully illustrated story.

Cleared for Takeoff Rowland White

Chronicle BooksAny reader interested in man’s pursuit of flight will be taken on the ride of a lifetime as all areas related to flight, whether it is technological, historical or related to human interest, are examined in this book.

Day of the DinosaursSteve Brusatte Illustrated by Daniel Chester

Quarto/Wide Eyed Editions“Step back into a spectacular prehistoric world” and explore the rise and fall of the dinosaurs along with some of their unique defense mechanisms, diets, and environmental habitats during their approximately 187 million year reign on Earth.

Every Breath We Take Maya Ajmera and Dominique Browning

CharlesbridgeThrough bright photographs and simple text structure, this book examines how air is needed by living creatures and useful for other activities we engage in as well.

Good Trick, Walking Stick! Sheri M. Bestor Illustrated by Jonny Lambert

Sleeping Bear PressThrough both narrative and expository text features as well as whimsical pictures that convey additional information, the life cycle of a walking stick is examined.

The Great White Shark Scientist Sy Montgomery Illustrated by Keith Ellenbogen

HMH Books for Young ReadersFollow a team of researchers led by biologist Greg Skomal as they study the largest and most feared fish, the great white shark.

Grow! Raise! Catch! Shelley Rotner

Holiday House, Inc.Rotner takes readers through the farm-to-table process through colorful photos of food and the farmers who produce it.

Hopping Ahead of Climate Change Sneed B. Collard III

Bucking Horse BooksHighlights the fascinating climate change research of one scientist from the perspective of one species.

I, Humanity Jeffrey Bennett

Big Kid ScienceThe story of our place in the universe told through the collective voice of humanity.

If You Are a Kaka, You Eat Doo Doo Sara Martel Illustrated by Sara Lynn Cramb

Tilbury House PublishersFascinating and fun stories about the role poo plays in different animal adaptions.

Illuminature Rachel Williams Illustrated by Carnovsky

Quarto/Wide Eyed EditionsUse a three color lens to explore the world with respect to its diverse habitats, animals that roam by day, and creatures that come out at night.

Insects Seymour Simon

HarperCollins Children’s BooksExquisite up-close photographs support the interesting text about the characteristics and classifications of various insect species.

Inside of a Dog Alexandra Horowitz Illustrated by Sean Vidal Edgerton

Simon & Schuster/S&S Books for Young ReadersUnderstand dogs on a whole new level by exploring how they see, feel, perceive, and communicate with their world.

Manatee Rescue Nicola Davies Illustrated by Annabel Wright

Candlewick PressA girl’s commitment to save an orphaned manatee changes the attitudes of her community.

Marie Curie for Kids Amy M. O’Quinn

Chicago Review PressAn inspirational biography of the legendary scientist tailored for young adults, accompanied by dozens of historical photos and activities that explain Curie’s valuable contribution to science.

Milestones of Flight Tim Grove

ABRAMSSoar through time as you read about specific achievements in aviation. Much of this book’s inspiring illustrations come from the Smithsonian’s collection.

Winning TitlesWinning Titles

Natural World Amanda Wood and Mike Jolley Illustrated by Owen Davey

Quarto/Wide Eyed EditionsThis book allows the reader to create his/her own learning adventure while looking through stunning illustrations and a treasure trove of information about our natural world.

Nefertiti, the Spidernaut Darcy Pattison Illustrated by Valeria Tisnés

Mims HouseThe true story of an investigation to see if a spider could adapt to living in an environment without gravity on the International Space Station and then going back to gravity on Earth.

Next Time You See a Cloud Emily Morgan Photos by Judd Patterson, Tom Uhlman, Steven David Johnson, and NASA

NSTA Press/NSTA KidsTake a closer look at clouds through striking photography and answers to everyday questions.

Notable Notebooks Jessica Fries-Gaither Illustrated by Linda Olliver

NSTA Press/NSTA KidsAn overview of how notebooks are used in science with examples from the field.

Octopuses One to Ten Ellen Jackson Illustrated by Robin Page

Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane BooksMore than a counting book, this book describes the unique characteristics of octopuses through rhyming text and engaging illustrations.

Our Food Grace Lin and Ranida T. McKneally Illustrated by Grace Zong

CharlesbridgeAnswers to questions such as “why are so many vegetables green?” are asked and answered as children visit a farm and learn about the different types of food we eat through informative text and short, witty poems.

Our Moon Elaine Scott

HMH Books for Young Readers/Clarion Books.A look at our evolving understanding of Earth’s nearest neighbor from a historical perspective to the most recent discoveries.

Owls! Laurence Pringle Illustrated by Meryl Henderson

Boyds Mills PressEnter the world of Owls through this beautifully illustrated book filled with unusual information about owls from all over the world.

Peeking Under the City Esther Porter Illustrated by Andrés Lozano

Capstone PressThe reader is taken on a graphically illustrated journey beneath the city to all of the aspects of life that are found there, ranging from transportation to infrastructure to evidence of long ago.

Platypus Sue Whiting Illustrated by Mark Jackson

Candlewick PressCaptivating illustrations accompanied by lyrical language bring readers into the fascinating world of the platypus.

Poop Detectives Ginger Wadsworth

CharlesbridgeExamines the use of scat detection dogs on land and sea in scientific research.

Winning TitlesOutstanding Science Trade Books

Super Cool Tech

DKThis uniquely designed book guides readers through a look at cutting edge technology and its secrets. Full-color images, cutaways, and digital artwork make this book visually enjoyable.

The Story of Seeds Nancy Castaldo

HMH Books for Young Readers/Clarion BooksThe impact of modern day science and technology ranging from genetically modified foods to the importance of maintaining seed vaults is examined from the context that seeds have an extremely important job in the world—the production of food.

Super Gear Jennifer Swanson

CharlesbridgeThe future is now! Discover the nano-inventions that are changing our lives.

Treecology Monica Russo Photos by Kevin Byron

Chicago Review PressA delightful introduction to trees, this information-packed resource has activities and observations for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Under Water, Under Earth Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski

Candlewick Press/Big Picture PressSimple but mesmerizing illustrations in the book explore mysteries beneath water and earth to captivate the reader’s imagination.

Whoosh! Chris Barton Illustrated by Don Tate

CharlesbridgeThe biography of a creative NASA engineer who invented one of the most famous water toys is presented through lively text and captivating illustrations.

Radioactive! Winifred Conkling

Algonquin Young ReadersScience and history are woven together in this chapter book about two important physicists whose contributions are often overlooked.

The Rock and Gem Book

DK Accurate, colorful illustrations with easy to read descriptions of many common rocks and gems found on Earth. What a great reference tool for any personal or school library!

The Secret Subway Shana Corey Illustrated by Red Nose Studio

Random House Children’s Books/Schwartz & WadeIncredibly fascinating illustrations help tell a little known but true story of the first underground subway in New York City. Readers will be captivated by the story itself and the description of how the illustrations were created.

Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea Robert Burleigh Illustrated by Raúl Colón

Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman BooksThis beautifully illustrated biography presents the story of Marie Tharp, the first person to successfully chart the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.

Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep April Pulley Sayre Illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Henry Holt.The actions of squirrels set to rhyme. More detailed explanations of the actions described are included at the end of the book.

Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool AnimalsAnimal Planet and Charles Ghigna

Time Inc. Books/Liberty StreetA stunning visual encyclopedia that shares lesser-known information about unique animals.